October 2021- A Thousand Ships

[Jasmine, Gatekeeper of Giveaways.]

This is the discussion for A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes. Please remember to mark spoilers if you include them. Happy reading.

[Ruby]

I'm enjoying this book a lot more than I expected. At first, the audiobook from the library was available to me, so I was writing down key points in my notebook. Then this morning the ebook became available, so now I'm reading while listening. I knew only a small amount of Greek mythology before, but it's really cool to learn about some of these characters and see how the all connect.

[Tina]

I’m about halfway through the audiobook. I like the way each character has their own chapter. I’m finding it useful to refer to the list of characters in The Iliad in Wikipedia

[Jayme]

I'm halfway through the print version. I am enjoying the slant and perspective that the women were strong and capable on both sides of the war.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

This was one of my favorite reads this year!
Link to my review (no spoilers):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kathryn]

Loved this book! Here's a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tina]

So it turns out the BBC program “Natalie Haynes Stands up for the Classics” is now available as a podcast in iTunes.

[Maureen]

I enjoyed this book very much. I found myself goggling some of the names though. I wanted to have more info on the book.
I thought it was beautifully written.
I just loved Penelope’s letters to her husband.

[Candace]

Tina wrote: "So it turns out the BBC program “Natalie Haynes Stands up for the Classics” is now available as a podcast in iTunes."

Hurrah! Just found it on Spotify. Thanks!

[Ruby]

Yes, I googled some things too. I'm about 70% done.

[Pearl]

I didn't get this one yet, and I'm wondering how it compares to other mythology retellings. I was considering The Silence of the Girls, another book about the women's perspective of the Trojan War.

I read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller this summer. It also covers the Trojan War, but the mc is Achilles' gay lover.

[Kathryn]

Pearl wrote: "I didn't get this one yet, and I'm wondering how it compares to other mythology retellings. I was considering The Silence of the Girls, another book about the women's perspective of..." If you liked The Song of Achilles I highly recommend Miller's other book Circe

[Cat]

I loved loved loved this book. Definitely one of my faves from this year!

I also have The Silence of the Girls so I wonder how it will compare? Strange that two well-known authors chose the same subject and PoV.

I also read Circe and loved it so much I bought it for my sister. I’ve not been put off to read Miller’s The Song of Achilles as it’s from a different perspective but perhaps the Silence of the Girls will be too similar. Does anyone know?

I also loved reading Penelope’s letters but my absolute fave part was reading about Cassandra. I didn’t really know much about her backstory apart from her being the name of the computer in Red Dwarf! 🤣 But I found her character fascinating and so tragic. I really seem to enjoy novels about Greek Myths!

[Ruby]

Just finished! I really liked it!

[Donna]

I’m just starting today. Looks like a good one judging from the comments here.

[Jayme]

Pearl wrote: "I didn't get this one yet, and I'm wondering how it compares to other mythology retellings. I was considering The Silence of the Girls, another book about the women's perspective of..."

I liked A Thousand Ships more than The Silence of the Girls. In The Silence of the Girls it seemed that some of the violence was written just for effect. In A Thousand Ships the individual women have distinct voices and the violence is integral to showcase their fear, anger, and vengeance.
I also liked that there is more myth stories in A Thousand Ships and that all women are represented from goddesses, to royalty, to slaves and even Mother Earth.

[Anne]

Finished this last night. It jumps around in time quite a bit and I thought that would be confusing, but it wasn't. It was like reading a bunch of short stories about different events and characters. I also realized that I've read a bunch of Trojan War/Greek God novels in the last couple of years and that I actually know some of these characters now! Good book. 4 stars.

[Jasmine, Gatekeeper of Giveaways.]

Cat wrote: "I loved loved loved this book. Definitely one of my faves from this year!

I also have The Silence of the Girls so I wonder how it will compare? Strange that two well-known authors chose the same ..."

I really liked Silence of the Girls. The author is says she wanted to depict the hardship of war and although A Thousand Ships also does that, it mainly depicts the ending of the war and division of the spoils and what happened after they left. The Silence of the Girls focuses on living as a slave while the war is still continuing and the emotions of watching and serving these men who are going to battle your allies everyday. I liked both and didn't really compare the two except when A Thousand Ships had its Briseis and Chryseis chapter.

I've read Miller's two books as well and I honestly think the four are able to stand on their own with distinct writing and POV.